They show it in other episodes, but the Federation has DARK SECRETS with Section 51, a TOP SECRET police force that basically fucks up anyone that posed even a marginal threat. Assassinations, spies, and all sorts of frivolity ensued.

There were also a lot of "BOY EARTH SUCKED A DICK" time travel episodes, one of which takes place in 2015, where San Francisco has taken all of the homeless or poor people and imprisoned them in a concentration ghetto.

Armin Shimmerman was the best actor on this show by leaps and bounds. Rene Auberjonois had his moments. Also, the guy who plays Garak, along with Louise Fletcher, and Jeffrey Combs were all brilliant. The leads were always kind of dull in comparison.

The wormhole was in Bajor's territory. The wormhole led to the Gamma Quadrant. Only way to get to the Gamma Quadrant was through the wormhole, unless you travel like 30 or so years there by spaceship (in the Star Trek universe)

Whoever has the wormhole controls the trade possibilities, treaties with new civilizations, diplomatic envoys, etc.